Yoga for Advanced

What To Wear To A Yoga Class

The vast majority of us put an effort in to our appearance – even when we’re exercising, we’d rather look as good as possible rather than sweaty and miserable. If you are thinking of taking up yoga, the same practice of wanting to be “well turned out” applies. Yet with an unknown discipline, it can sometimes be difficult to select what to wear, as you’re unsure of exactly what you’ll be doing.

One way to deal with this is to go along to the end of one of the yoga classes prior to the one you’ll be attending, and – without being obvious – have a quick look at what everyone is wearing. As every class, every gym and even every city is slightly different in what they wear, this is the best way of discovering ‘common practice’ at your local gym. Alternatively, when you sign up for the class, ask what it is recommended that you wear. Don’t worry about this, as the question has doubtless been asked before, and it will provide the answers you seek.

If, however, that all sounds a little too forthright, you can go for an “anything works” option – something that will fit in everywhere. Many people who practice yoga work in leotards, skin tight lycra ensembles that allow for maximum flexibility – so that’s an option if you’re brave enough for such exposure. If you’d rather be a little more covered, a baggy tee-shirt and stretchy leggings work well. Just ensure you can move freely, without any restrictive fabric, and all will be well.

The Etiquette of a Yoga Class

Going in to a new situation is always a little bit worrying, no matter how confident you are in yourself. There’s always the worry that you won’t be wearing the right things, that you won’t know the rules, that you’ll make a mistake that might not officially be a ‘rule’ but is an unspoken agreement. For some people, this fear of making ‘beginner’ mistakes is enough to totally put them off doing things they want to do.

Exercise classes are always difficult to join, and can make even the most self assured person feel uncomfortable. Yoga classes all the more so, as one is almost lead to believe you will be approaching a zen-like situation in which you are expecting to close your eyes and hum and all other manner of Hollywood-inspired practices. If you have concerns about a yoga class, all you need is a brief etiquette in yoga. It’s really very simple, and will make the classes more enjoyable.

Yoga is primarily taught in silence, with only the Yogi (the person leading the class) regularly speaking. However, if you’re having any questions or queries – and particularly if you’re feeling uncomfortable – then you are perfectly within your rights to ask for guidance. Do so by raising your hand, it may feel childish but it’s polite.

By and large, the class itself and your instructor should be your sole focus. Be polite, and within time you will adapt to the natural rhythm of the class, and fit in just fine.

A Yoga Glossary – To Help You With The Terminology

One thing that the eagle eyed will no doubt have noticed about yoga is the prevalence of non-English words and their importance in the complex lexicon of yoga. It is used to refer to specific poses, to elements of the exercises, breathing techniques and in greetings, and even the word “yoga” itself comes from a Sanskrit term. Here are some helpful tips on the Sanskrit terminology used in yoga.

The word that you will hear repeated time and again separately from any exercise is namaste. Literally translated it means “I bow to you” and is used as a respectful, cheerful greeting. It can also be used to mean “thank you” and is usually accompanied by clasped palms over the heart and a small bow of the head. You may also hear at the start and finish of your classes a simple chant of “om”. This is to signify the union of body, mind and spirit in one, the whole universe in a single sound. It is pronounced more like “a-um”

The word “Yoga” itself similarly refers to a union of soul and spirit through yogic exercises. Different types of yoga referred to by their Sanskrit names include Ashtanga – a physically challenging form of yoga; Ananda – a more gentle, inward form of the practice; Iyengar – a form noted for its attention to detail and the frequent use of external props; Vinyasa is a word which represents the flow of interconnected yogic poses, linked together by breath work in one continuous motion.